Argos Wityu exits Kägi

Geneva – Argos Wityu has sold its stake in Kägi, a Swiss food processing company, to an undisclosed Swiss industrial family.

The buyer has a strong interest in the fast moving consumer goods (fmcg) market. This represents Argos Wityu’s second exit in a week, following the sale of the French company Dinno Santé to the Health Division of Air Liquide.

Argos Wityu acquired Kägi Söhne AG in 2008, along with Swiss Roland Murten AG and Cansimag France SA, from listed Swiss distribution company Valora Holding AG for an undisclosed amount in a single transaction. Kägi, the strongest of the three companies was retained after the other two were sold to Swiss food company Cornu SA for an undisclosed amount.

During the holding period, Kägi reinforced its market position in Switzerland, and grew its export markets in the Middle East, Germany and Austria. The chocolate wafer maker launched dark chocolate products to grow market share.

Beat Siegfried, CEO of Kägi Söhne AG : “Our partnership with Argos Wityu was characterized by quick and efficient decision making, which allowed us to create value and to prepare for an accelerated development of Kägi in the coming years. We invested not only in the optimization of production processes and in new technologies, but also in product innovations and access to new markets such as China. These investments will enable Kägi to further grow its brand and to offer its famous wafer and biscuit specialties to existing and new clients at the outstanding quality levels it is known for.”

Created in 1989, Argos Wityu is an independent European Private Equity firm with offices in Geneva, Paris and Milan, wholly owned and operated by its partners. Argos Wityu focuses on management buy-outs and buy-ins in small and medium sized companies across Europe, but primarily in Switzerland, France and Italy. The group of funds managed by the firm typically take majority stakes ranging from €10m to €50m in companies with revenues of €20m to €400m. The operations Argos Wityu has carried out include Buffet Crampon, Roc-Eclerc, Oxbow, Du Pareil au Même and Kermel in France, Bellco, GPP, Sparco and CH&F in Italy, and Maillefer, ORS and Misapor in Switzerland.